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Sunday, 29 June 2014

Hi Everyone, here is the excuse for not blogging recently. My new craft room, well combined bedroom. I was in here, an 8ft x 10ft room with a double bed a wardrobe, a large bookcase, my desk and a set of drawers. Squashed was not the word I could use!

After some deliberation, I decided I needed more room, so out went the bed to a homeless charity as it was hardly used, being a spare bedroom. Then the planning began, as this is a North facing room, trying to get a place for me to "play" with in light, and get everything in, as well as room to spare.

We eventually came up with this combination, however as we have the radiator under the window the desk height had to be around that. I thought it would be OK to have the window and desk merged into one with the work top and window sill one piece - WRONG! (Hubby told me it would be too high - ooops!) It ended up with me, with my new chair at full height, feet dangling, I'm 5ft 7 inches so it was up VERY high, which just didn't do it for comfort. So as I have explained in my previous post, hubby pulled everything apart and started again.

Now, thanks to Ikea for the units and sofa bed, I have a wonderful space VERY neat and tidy (at the moment). I want to add something to the walls, but not sure what yet, I'm still settling into my large space. The room seems huge compared to what I had to work with before.

OK! I suppose you want to see what I am talking about and not have me rambling on.

This is my room with the bed gone, before work

This was my temporary place in the conservatory

During work. it seemed so much bigger, I wonder why?

Perhaps you can see in this, the work top and window sill in one, so neat, but had to be dismantled, the mirror is not for me to admire myself while working! it's for me to see who is coming into the room, Feng Shui and all that, AND to make sure the boys don't creep up on me as my back is to the door

The room finished with storage, and items I use all the time in the cupboard to the right of me. I have ironed the bed cover after I took the photo LOL.

This is the back of the room and storage, the drawers contain my ribbons, sooooo tidy in them.

This is my view on the side of the bungalow.

Hope you have enjoyed the tour of my room, while it is still really neat and tidy LOL.

Saturday, 28 June 2014

Hi Everyone, I saw this tutorial on Snickerdoodles and thought I would see if I could start adding extra layers and styles to my photographs. Here is my take on the idea. Apart from the edges I don't have the DP or images to use, so started with a photo of The Mumbles which is on the Gower coast a beautiful area and thankfully not too far from us.

I used the freebie edge from Snickerdoodles, a free texture by skeletalmess over the photo, then added a new layer of "dark scratches" I have had this since 2006, so don't know where from - sorry. Then added shadows, and a few more layer styles also the paper and tape and added styles to them too. This is quite a departure for me as I don't usually like to "mess things up" too much, but all in all I am quite pleased at what can be achieved with PS. I also used a paper torn brush here there are 38 shapes.

Here are a few more photos taken on the same day a few weeks ago.

This is the original photo

The old (cream and yellow) and new lifeboat station at The Mumbles

This is from the cliff road overlooking the Pier and Lifeboat Stations

A closeup of the new Lifeboat station

Looking across the bay towards Swansea

This "Apple" has been at The Mumbles since I was a child, a VERY long time ago. Although it had been damaged in winter storms in recent years, it it now as good as ever.

A view towards the now automatic Lighthouse.
The sea here is the second highest in the world,
after the Bay of Funday's Minas Basin Nova Scotia

Friday, 27 June 2014

There are quite a few books I have read and reread and it was hard to decide which to choose, but decided to do something quite different with a Bugaboo digi stamp.

It's "Fifty Shades of Grey" it's a book I didn't think I'd enjoy after all the publicity, however if you ignore all the, how can I say it, well you know! I thought it a beautiful love story, of the love of a woman who helps a man to find real love. In fact "Love conquers all".

Items used -

Digi stamp from Bugaboo

background paper, lips, bow by Summertime Designs

frame by TimberScraps on Pixel Scrapper Jan. blog train "The best is yet to come"

Sunday, 22 June 2014

Hi Everyone, while I can just about see my computer screen, I am in the conservatory and the glare has been awful, we are decorating my craft/bedroom,- yes! - still at it. It is ALL being renewed.

Yesterday I thought it all finished and ready to move back into, when I sat on my new chair and found the desk height was just under my boobs, I heightened the chair to it's highest and decided that as my feet didn't touch the floor, the made to measure desk had to be lowered. I thought no, I couldn't ask that of him, it looked too good, but hubby, my wonderful man of all trades decided it wasn't good enough, so removed all his work that had taken all day to do and is going to start on it again tomorrow, have I got a saint or haven't I? I would probably have had a tantrum, but no, he said it wasn't right and it had to be. Bless him.

So another few days before I can see the screen properly. Everything is guess work and so many of my things are mixed up in the garage and I can't get to them, that is why I haven't been posting, at least with my DT work for Digitally Sweet Challenges it's all digital, however I have had to guess colours and shading, and crossing fingers that all was acceptable.

Anyhow, I have a bit of time while hubby is watering the garden, so thought I would let you see a card I did for my baby brother recently. Quite simple as he doesn't "do" fancy. and it had to be posted. He has been making a studio for himself and painting etc, so thought it apt. (scroll to the end for a photo of it)

My baby brother is a retired commercial photographer and still likes to keep his hand in, friends children have asked him to do their weddings too, although he does fantastic imaginative photos of them, it's not his favourite thing to do. He is so good in everything he does, wish I had a quarter of his imagination. He has used this branch for numerous shots in various situations, looks like he has retired it from work too. LOL. Anyhow, here is a picture of his studio so far.

Extra embellishments
challenge sketch by Bastel-Traum Blogspot.
Quote from Quote Garden and thought it fitted with the image
Clock by jiovannascreations@yahoo.com.
Can you see the train shadow on the pink? The train is by Scrapcationgetaway blog.

Friday, 13 June 2014

My DT card today is made with the fabulous Lacy Sunshine Bubbles Sailing, just perfect for someone going on a cruise holiday (vacation).

I have used papers and elements from the digi kit Hatteras by Wild Blueberry Ink, I love this kit. This is entirely digital. I added shadows to papers and elements and image, painted the image in PS, added a "stroke" to the papers to give the effect of layering. I also added a "style" to the band around the barrel.

Here is the printed card, so easy when done in digi first. Taken in VERY bright sunshine.

PS TIP - I have been learning a few things off the Creative Live web site with (Dave Cross, PS teacher) and I put it to good use in this card. Instead of having all the layers shown, (a lot) I "grouped" the paper layers with the elements, then the image top layers in another group, I could select which group I wanted to show and print that group, then the same with the other group after "hiding" the first printed group. I hope you PS users understand this. Sorry it's mumbo jumbo for the rest of you LOL. It's something I shall be doing in the future, made it so easy.